SEGA has finally provided more detail on the latest Yakuza title. This new adventure, the first to star the brand new protagonist Ichiban Kasuga, now has an official title -- its western name is Yakuza: Like a Dragon.

The official website, as translated by Gematsu, has a bunch of new information. Kasuga takes the fall for the crimes of the higher-ups in his yakuza clan, and serves 18 years in prison. When he finally gets out, no one is there to meet him. He returns to Kamurocho to find it now controlled by the police and Omi Alliance, and his clan wiped out. He's then shot by his old boss, and winds up back in Yokohama, the main setting of the game.

It's a pretty cold opener, isn't it? But the most surprising thing about this new title is that the combat will be turn-based. Remember that April Fools video that framed this game as a turn-based RPG? Well, it wasn't a joke after all. As you can see in the above screenshots, the brawling we've come to expect from the series has been replaced with something a little more considered.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is out in Japan on 16th January 2020, and the western release will follow later down the line. What do you think of it so far? Take turns in the comments below.

Having grown up alongside PlayStation, Stephen has developed a wide knowledge of video games, from AAA blockbusters to the smallest indie gems. He also has the Platinum for The Witness, so there’s that.

No but seriously, I love turn based RPG’s, I love yakuza, but I don’t want the yakuza main series to be a turn based rpg. If it was a spin off I would be very interested in playing it, just not the main series.

Final Fantasy used to be a turn-based RPG and nowadays it's an action RPG series, that transition pissed me off so much so I can totally understand why people would be peeved by such a big genre shift. Personally I would probably prefer the new style.

I am cautiously optimistic. I would like to know how heat actions and attacks translate into turn based combat, as I am worried battles won't feel as exciting. Nonetheless, based on my experience of Yakuza thus far, I am still expecting great things.

Quite surprised they have gone so far. I sort of get the new beginning and new style idea, but to be such a drastic change under the guise of Yakuza may be a problem especially as its been, until recent years a fairly niche series.

I will wait and see how it turns out, but on initial thoughts, Judgement and a sequel got a whole lot more appetising.

@themcnoisyFast, fluid, fun. That's what I prefer about most action RPGs over turn-based. The latter slows the game down so much it becomes boring. Yakuza took action to the next level. Where as with the turn-based RPGs I used to play I dreaded random encounters, I'd actively seek them out in Yakuza and Judgment because of how fun and flashy the combat is. It's definitely what made the series. Love the characters, the stories, the settings but the fighting was top of the list.

And there's already a massive lack of brawlers to begin with, forget about good ones. To lose the best? Sucks.

Can we not wait and see how it turns out before writing it off? I question the decision myself, but im willing to give Yakuza team the benefit of the doubt and at least see the mechanics they put in place.

Have to say I'm totally torn on this, been a huge Yakuza fan since the PS2 days, so feel I have to wait & see before making a final decision on whether this new direction is one I'll be able to accept.

Main problem for me is turn-based combat is usually an instant no go area for me, in fact only games I can think of I've ever played in my entire life with turn-based combat are Paper Mario on the Cube and South Park TSOT on the PS3, that's it.

I want to be excited about a brand new Yakuza game coming out but sadly not really feeling it right now.

It's happening too often where people disagree with one decision the devs have made and then decide they don't want the game long before it's even out."Game has MP, no buy""Game has Season Pass, no buy or wait for big sale""Game has turn based combat, no buy""Game removes gender options, no buy"And on and on we go, try being a lot more open minded about such things, you might surprised by how much more enjoyable gaming can get instead of playing the same old things all the time.

It’s a weird one for me, I love TBC, I love Yakuza but I definitely feel that Yakuza suits the fighting it already has. I’m interested to see where it goes and more Yakuza is always a good thing however.

"Like a Dragon" sounds like a Weird AL Yankovic cover of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" and the video is all the times Danerys had sex with different guys (and girl) in GoT over the years and now I really want to see that video. 😂

Turn based games are great, but I can't see this working well with Yakuza. That game is more suited to its brawler combat. Maybe the developers can prove us more skeptical folks wrong once we see more of it.

I can see this working depending on the style of game they're planning on turning the Yakuza series into. If they're planning on going heavy on the RPG aspects and moving away from the action, then sure, it might be a nice fit. Either way, it's their creative choice, not ours. And we have to respect and accept that.

When I saw that April Fool's Day gameplay, I said I'd pay good money for a turn-based Yakuza game. I stand by that. I'm extremely happy they're going this route. I really don't understand why it's bumming so many people out. The studio will no doubt put their own spin on turn-based combat.

As a long time RGG fan this looks so good, and refreshing. I’m honestly super excited for this. A different perspective on combat might actually be great for the series. Hard to know for sure till I get my hands on it. But I’m definitely staying open to the idea. Although I am afraid of this taking away from the sales of western releases.

How not to switch up a series 101. That looks terrible. A spin-off is all this should’ve been. I get they’ve been making the same game for a while, but they should use a new series and not sully the name of Yakuza if they want to do this. This reminds me of what happened tin AC and it’s a tragedy to see. If anything it’s a lazy switch up. Instead of bothering to come up with new fresh ideas they’ve just completely switched the genre that’ll play like any other JRPG.Also, I’ll echo those who don’t like the main character’s design.

I only started Yakuza Zero a few days ago and I'm absolutely loving it.The side stories are hilarious and really don't match the tone of the main story which is no bad thing at all.This looks pretty good to be honest and but I'm surprised by the change in combat...but with a whole load of Yakuza games left to play before I get to this one it's going to be a VERY long time before I can find out if ill be bothered by it.

@get2sammyb Who knows, as much as team RGG likes to add minigames to their games I could totally imagine there being a system in which you can swap between traditional Yakuza gameplay and turn based RPG on the fly. As a huge fan I welcome a change of pace, since I feel that judgment, though fantastic as to expect, should have differentiated itself more from the Yakuza series.

@Lekzie1 Thanks for that info, but it's too late now, what was imagined can not be unimagined. And "Like a Dragon" sounds wrongly or poorly translated for a game title. Not sure what's better, maybe "To be the Dragon" or just "The Dragon". Like is too valley girl for me. But like whatever. 😉

This looks awesome. I played a bit of Yakuza 0 and deeply enjoyed the ridiculous storylines and macho characters, but the combat... eh. I'm not a huge fan of 3D brawlers.

This looks great, though. And, since it's a new character as the protagonist, presumably it'll b a good jumping on point for people like me who are a bit intimated by the massive soap opera Yakuza seems to have turned into.

Not sure how well turn based combat will work in a Yakuza game but if the rgg studio were confident enough to change things like this, must say I am really looking forward to how this turns out. For all the great games they have developed I believe they deserve this much belief in them.

I guess I’m the only one that is actually interested in this. I love RPGs, and there’s nothing better than an RPG with a great story and characters, and the Yakuza series knows how to do write both of those things extremely well. Yes, the turn based combat may seem off putting but they aren’t removing the combat entirely. I’m more than positive they will still use heat actions and all that stuff, and make the combat goofy and over the top just as previous entries, albeit in a turn based mode. I am actually excited and can’t wait to see more.

Im waiting too see how it turns out. Have not started any Yakuza game yet im swamped with a massive backlog. I just started buying every game and they are all in the shrinkwrap. When i start a game i will finish it first. Turnbased games are awsome when Final Fantasy went actionrpg it went downhill fast. Not saying every actionrpg is bad here just Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy 7-8-9-10-10/2-12 and with Final Fantasy 13 it went downhill.